By Sarah Hannan Sri Lanka has refused to auction seized Indian boats, saying they are not in a condition to be auctioned. The Government of India had requested that Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development look at auctioning the Indian fishing boats that were seized by the Navy due to poaching activities in Sri Lanka’s waters and to return the monies so that they could give the monies to the Indian fishermen. However, when contacted by The Sunday Morning, the State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dilip Wedaarachchi said that the boats could not be auctioned. “The seized Indian fishing boats are in no condition to be auctioned, as overtime the bodies of the vessels have deteriorated due to corrosion. The only type of re-purposing that we could do is to use them for the development of aquaculture.” Wedaarachchi said the Ministry had commenced a project to increase aquaculture production through conservation and development of aquatic ecosystems. “We have already commenced these projects, but will be ceremoniously declaring the projects in the coming weeks.” Tamil Nadu politician Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, daughter of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi, was in Colombo last week. She met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed the fishermen issue. Kanimozhi had also discussed the fishermen issue at a separate meeting with State Minister Wedaarachchi. The Tamil Nadu MP had raised concerns over alleged attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen.